“Really?”
Jing Tan’er clutched the blanket and shrank into the corner of the bed, her helpless appearance evoking pity.
The last time her defenses broke was when she was brutally beaten by some little yellow-haired brat from who knows which backwater village.
The seemingly mighty dynasty had split apart, flickering like a dying candle in the wind.
She understood the internal and external troubles all too well but could only worry in silence.
So she had to become strong.
At the very least, she had to pretend to be powerful, act imperiously toward everyone, and had grown accustomed to hiding behind the sharp-tongued villainess mask to deceive herself.
Because the moment she showed any weakness, the frail heir would be devoured by ambitious vassals.
A gravely ill King, arrogant vassals, and a disgusting Fake.
Over these days, Jing Tan’er’s unease had built to its limit.
She didn’t even know where the courage to offer her bitter first kiss came from.
If she didn’t say certain things now, there might never be another chance…
“When have I ever lied to you?”
At that moment, Yun Liu extended his hand, a gentle smile on his lips, once again trying to pull her out of the mire.
Jing Tan’er’s fingertips trembled, hesitating.
Her small hand withdrew halfway, then in shame and anger, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him!
“Idiot! If that’s true, doesn’t it mean you tricked me just now? You deliberately…deliberately wanted to see this Princess make a fool of herself!”
“Ahaha, wasn’t it you who made the request? Actually, I should thank the Fake. Only then could I hear your true feelings. Thanks for the treat.”
Facing the little Princess who was baring her fangs and claws, Yun Liu’s eyes were full of affection.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly, soothing her softly.
“Shh, behave, my Princess.”
“Mm…”
Jing Tan’er leaned against Yun Liu’s chest, her heart pounding wildly.
With a small whimper, her soft body melted like mud.
My…Princess?
I’m not dreaming, am I?
“The next thing I have to tell you is very important. What happens next is up to you.”
“Is it about the King?”
Jing Tan’er’s heart tightened, her mind clearing a bit.
Now wasn’t the time for romance.
Yun Liu was stunned for a moment.
“You already knew?”
“The King’s time is almost up. He told me long ago. Just being able to see him one more time after coming back, I’m already satisfied.”
The little Princess looked sorrowful, raising her head to look at the dumbfounded boy.
She reached out and pointed to the Yun Ring.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but among the gifts I bestowed on you—well, the love token I gave you—there’s a tea set, and inside it I hid a puppet. I was afraid something might happen, so I left it by your side. It’s safer that way.”
“This is…?”
Yun Liu examined it closely, and sure enough, he found the puppet inside the ring.
Jing Tan’er took the puppet, crushed it casually, and revealed a vermilion jade seal hidden within.
It wasn’t a spiritual artifact or treasure, but it was the key to opening the Royal Court’s Dianli and initiating the pilgrimage.
It absolutely could not fall into outsiders’ hands and endanger the Vermilion Bird.
Yun Liu’s gaze was shaken as he looked at the slightly smug Jing Tan’er.
So, this child was even smarter than he’d imagined.
So the Sun Wheel Imperial Seal had been given to Jing Yan to bring to the Sea of Clouds all along, and unknowingly entrusted to him?
This crucial item wasn’t even in the hands of the monarch!
“As long as you take out this thing, the Fake can’t hide. But the King told me to protect it with my life. Unless absolutely necessary, I must not reveal it.”
Jing Tan’er shrugged.
She only knew the Imperial Jade Seal was extremely important, but not its other uses.
After pondering for a moment, Yun Liu laid out the Demon Sect’s plot and handed the Blacklist to the girl.
“So they want to harm the Saint Bird!”
Jing Tan’er gasped, covering her mouth in shock after hearing everything.
Seeing several familiar names, she felt both angry and hurt.
Not just Jing Rui—even her closest friends had approached her with ulterior motives.
She was clearly in the Royal Capital, yet it felt like a cage, with few she could trust.
“How did you find out?”
“Don’t underestimate the Shanhai Pavilion.”
Jing Tan’er lowered her head in frustration, growing more agitated.
“Sigh, even if I know, so what? It’s too late to ask the sect for help now. No one would believe me before my identity is clear. In fact, the more chaotic things get, the better for them. Can just a few of us…really stop the Demon Sect fiends?”
Yun Liu shook his finger.
“So long as the Sun Wheel Imperial Seal is safe, the Vermilion Bird is invincible in Yudu. There’s no need for anyone else to help. The real question is, how do you plan to clean up this mess?”
“R-right. Rather than worrying about Lord Golden Crow, I should worry about myself…”
The Vermilion Bird was the guardian spirit of the Eastern Prefecture, able to drive off invading fiends, but never harming its own people, not even traitors.
The Princess’s real dilemma wasn’t defeating the demoness, but justly inheriting the throne to protect her people and prevent the dynasty from falling to ruin after the monarch’s death.
The worst outcome of the Black Crow Usurpation would be for vassals everywhere to march in the name of restoring order.
“I’ve got it! Let’s ‘slice’ everyone on the list!”
Jing Tan’er seemed to get it and bared her little fangs, only to be knocked on the head by Yun Liu.
Never mind the Shanhai Pavilion’s neutrality—even the Shenhua Sect wouldn’t intervene in worldly struggles to help her eliminate enemies.
“No, think again. The True Princess may be isolated and limited in ability, but the Fake Princess can have many allies.”
“I was just joking.”
Jing Tan’er rubbed her head.
But after listening, her eyes lit up.
“You mean…”
Jing Tan’er quickly understood, her expression turning thoughtful.
“I get it. Right now, the True Princess is a superfluous existence in the eyes of traitors. So why not let the demoness enjoy her victory for a while? I can pretend to be the Fake Princess and gain support from the rebels.”
Yun Liu nodded with a smile, eyes full of approval.
“The factions at the Grand Ceremony of the Sundial are already clear. The Eastern Prefecture vassals are fickle, the Northern Prefecture’s barbarian soldiers are just brutes, and Black Crow’s side is the greatest threat—uniting the Southwestern Vassals and Celestial Attendants.”
“Besides, they know the Fake Princess is theirs, so if you earn their trust, they’ll go all out to help you take the throne.”
“Jing Rui!”
Jing Tan’er clenched her teeth, her eyes flickering with hesitation.
In other words, she had to infiltrate the enemy, use the Demon Sect’s power to secure the throne, and that also meant leaving Yun Liu and facing the traitors alone.
“But the Demon Sect fiends are cunning and cruel. Can I really do it alone…?”
“You’re not alone, I promise. But this path is full of hardship. Once you take it, there’s no turning back. If you want to quit, it’s not too late. Qin Yao will escort you safely back to the Sea of Clouds. But from then on, the Zhusheng Dynasty will have nothing to do with you.”
Yun Liu spoke softly, his gaze blazing.
Jing Tan’er hesitated only for a moment.
The confusion in her eyes vanished.
Her beautiful face hardened with determination, allowing no one to stain the Royal Court.
“I will never stand by and watch the dynasty fall into their hands!”
Yun Liu nodded.
He was both comforted and a little heartbroken.
If Jing Tan’er had chosen otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced her.
She could’ve become the carefree exiled Princess Jing Yan wished her to be, far from scheming and betrayal, living a peaceful life.
“Don’t worry about the Royal Court. That Fake is under my watch.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t being entrusted to Yun Liu, the fake Holy Son, but rather letting Ji Shiyu, the Child of Destiny, carry (the burden)!
Under the white-robed youth’s surprised gaze, Jing Tan’er placed the Sun Wheel Imperial Seal in his hand, her head slowly resting on his shoulder.
“Wait for me. I won’t let the King down, and I won’t let you down either.”
Jing Tan’er’s eyes grew cold.
Her mind was set.
When the time came to settle accounts, not a single traitor on the Blacklist would escape!